A compelling story of two siblings—one a politician, the other a high-end wedding planner—struggling under the expectations of society, their (absent) revolutionary mother, and their past selves. Through these singular characters, Olga Dies Dreaming grapples with broader issues of class, colonialism, capitalism, and cronyism. This book, which I enjoyed so much I read it over a single weekend, will be as comfortable on a beach blanket as on a college syllabus — it engrosses and educates in equal measure. And it made me laugh out loud. - Emma N.
How do you choose between faith and safety? How do you protect yourself from the only world you’ve ever known? The Mennonite women of Molotschna attempt to answer these questions after their lives are torn asunder by repeated assault. But, while the situation is disturbing, the conversation is far from hopeless. These women—incredibly resilient, keenly intelligent—will remind you of the simple power of women talking.
You may not expect a winding, plotless novel about a medieval nunnery to be utterly engrossing, but it is. Irreverent and amusing, Townsend Warner’s nuns are political, petty, and rather lacking in piety.
The first book in an epic quartet about a small group of friends attempting to end a twenty-year war. The best way I can describe this series is engulfing. It is a rain-soaked field as often as it is a warm hearth. It will enflame, it will soothe. It is one of those books that is both dark—concerning war, a land under siege, a society demolished—and full of hope—showing a community reimagined and rebuilt. It insists its characters question their beliefs, their driving forces, and do what’s right no matter how difficult. Also, it’s perfect for fans of Avatar the Last Airbender.
Our culture’s increasing obsession with productivity and efficiency is driving us slowly insane. How to Do Nothing proposes a cure: take back control of your attention, practice sustainability, view maintenance as progress. Odell has reframed the way I see the world and my place in it; more importantly, she has made me feel equipped for whatever comes next.
This comic is like your favorite sitcom where nothing much happens but you find yourself constantly rewatching and laughing your head off. Giant Days is a hilarious, disturbingly accurate depiction of university life and post-adolescence, but enjoyable no matter how far (or close) you are to your school years.
A guide to bringing magic into the home that is as beautiful as it is useful. Feldman, a witch and owner of the Salem, MA shop HausWitch, offers pages of suggestions for bringing comfort, protection, and balance to your home.
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America (Paperback)
A fascinating anthropological study on Neo-Pagans, Wiccans, and witches. Written in the 70s, revised in ‘06, and still surprisingly relevant and revealing. If you’re drawn to paganism or looking for a better understanding of the movement, this is a great place to begin.
Eschewing genre or classification, these stories hop from gothic horror to sci-fi to magical realism in a swirling, extraordinary feat of invention. Link’s talent is awesome—by the original definition—inspiring both great trepidation and admiration. Once you read this, you’ll want to read every story Link has ever written.